Dighanikaya 2.161_4

2.161_4

Agamā kho tvanti kasmā evamāha? Bhagavā kira rañño vacībhede akateyeva cintesi – ‘‘ayaṃ rājā āgantvā tuṇhī niravo ṭhito, kiṃ nu kho cintesī’’ti. Athassa cittaṃ ñatvā – ‘‘ayaṃ mayā saddhiṃ sallapituṃ asakkonto bhikkhusaṅghaṃ anuviloketvā puttaṃ anussari, na kho panāyaṃ mayi anālapante kiñci kathetuṃ sakkhissati, karomi tena saddhiṃ kathāsallāpa’’nti. Tasmā rañño vacanānantaraṃ ‘‘agamā kho tvaṃ, mahārāja, yathāpema’’nti āha. Tassattho – mahārāja, yathā nāma unname vuṭṭhaṃ udakaṃ yena ninnaṃ tena gacchati, evameva tvaṃ bhikkhusaṅghaṃ anuviloketvā yena pemaṃ tena gatoti.

"Have you gone [where affection leads]?": why did he say this? It is said that before the king made any utterance, the Blessed One thought: 'This king came and stood silent and voiceless; what indeed is he thinking?' Then, knowing his mind, [the Blessed One thought]: 'Unable to converse with me, he looked around at the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and remembered his son; but if I do not speak to him, he will not be able to say anything; I shall have a conversation with him.' Therefore, immediately after the king's words, he said: "Have you gone, great king, where affection leads?" The meaning is: Great king, just as water that falls on high ground flows toward the low ground, in the very same way you, looking around at the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, have gone toward where your affection lies.